Rebels by Accident by Patricia Dunn Read Free Book Online Page B

and look toward the doors again, but Sittu is no longer standing there.
    â€œNext.”
    It’s our turn to meet the customs officer. “It was nice meeting you.” Deanna extends her hand. She and Ahmed shake, and Deanna dashes to the officer.
    â€œVery nice,” I say, extending my hand too.
    But when Ahmed takes my hand in his, he doesn’t shake it. He holds on to it with both his hands and says, “Have a good time in Egypt. And, Mariam, I bet your sittu isn’t as tough as you fear.”
    I stare at him for a moment, trying to remember if I’d said anything about Sittu on the plane. I know he was eavesdropping on our conversation, but I’m almost positive I never said a word out loud about Sittu. Maybe he’s a mind reader. I pull my hand from his and rejoin Deanna.
    The officer takes our passports. He examines them for a moment, then taps Deanna’s passport. Deanna turns to me. “You don’t remember how you say hello, do you?”
    â€œHello,” I say.
    â€œI mean in Arabic.”
    â€œ Ahlan ,” the customs officer says dully. It doesn’t sound like he appreciates that Deanna is trying to speak his language.
    â€œThat’s it! Ahlan ! ”
    The customs officer starts looking back and forth between his computer and Deanna’s passport, exactly like the other officer did before the guards took the man away.
    â€œ Asalaam alaikum ,” I say, just like Baba taught me.
    â€œ Wa-Alaikum-Salaam .”
    He can smile. I smile back.
    â€œMy favorite color.” He points to my red suitcase.
    â€œMine too,” I say as I smile wider.
    â€œYou are sad?” he asks Deanna as he points to her mouth.
    â€œJust tired,” she says, skirting the question.
    â€œWhat is the reason for your trip?”
    â€œWe’re here to see my grandmother.”
    â€œHer sittu ,” Deanna adds.
    This makes him smile again.
    â€œBefore I let you both through, you have to promise me one thing.” The officer pauses, waiting for our answer.
    â€œYes,” we say in unison.
    â€œYou must learn to speak Arabic.” He laughs this time.
    â€œThat’s the plan,” Deanna says.
    I nod.
    â€œ Ahlan wa sahlan ,” he says. “Welcome to Egypt.”
    As we head for the sliding glass doors, Deanna and I glance at the green metal door. We don’t say a word, but I know we’re both hoping the family is okay.
    â€œYou told your sittu about my smile thing, right?” Deanna asks. “I don’t want her to think I’m not happy to see her when we first meet. First impressions are important, you know.”
    Deanna always acts like she doesn’t care what people think of her. I envy that. So why does she have to pick now to care about what someone thinks? Especially someone who is as uptight as Sittu?
    â€œShe’s going to love you,” I say, wanting to believe it, but I can’t imagine Sittu loving a rebel.

chapter
SEVEN
    Sittu kisses me on both cheeks so hard I feel like she’s leaving bruises. I’m glad the kisses she gives Deanna seem a lot softer. Sittu looked taller from a distance. Standing next to her, I see she’s short like me. Still, Ahmed’s right. She really is beautiful.
    â€œWasn’t there someone to help you with your bags?” Sittu asks, looking down at our luggage. “Didn’t you see the men wearing the gray uniforms? They’re usually there to help, grabbing the tourists’ bags.”
    Deanna and I look at each other. I guess that guy wasn’t trying to rob us after all.
    Sittu says something in Arabic to me.
    â€œSorry.” I shrug.
    â€œYou don’t speak Arabic?” she asks, shaking her head, but I know she knows I don’t speak Arabic. “All those books I’ve sent you! Your father should be ashamed of himself. I suppose that’s what happens when people move to the big U.S. of A. They forget where they came